Game apparatus



T. J. 'DI XON. AME APPARATUS.

2 SHEETS SHEET 1- HLED MAY 31,1921.

INVENTOR 'Jan'. 16, 1923. A A 1,442,054.

T. J. DIXON. A

GAME APPARATUS. r FILED MAY 31.1921. V 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR J 72/0MA6 J. DIXON Patented Jan. 16, 1923.

- UNITED STATES THOMAS J. DIXON, OF MADISON, WISCONSIN.

GAME APPARATUS Application filed May 31,

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. DIXON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Madison, in the county of Dane and State of \Visconsin, have invented a new and useful Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to that class of game devices or apparatus in which the use of balls, marbles and the like are projected by being thrown or tossed into receiving compartments of relatively fixed value, and in which means is also included for returning the played projectiles to a receiver adjacent the player so that the operation of playing the game may be conveniently repeated.

Primarily my invention seeks to provide a game of the general character stated, of a relatively simple and economical construction, that will interest grown persons as well as children, that can be conveniently carried from place to place and utilized as a parlor game and in which in addition to the usual element of chance, is required keenness of the eye and accuracy in tossing the projectiles to insure success.

Another object of my invention is to provide in a game apparatus of'the character stated, a combined arrangement of a nest of pockets or compartments, having a targetlike arrangement; that is, a central or bulls eye pocket, the most difficult one into which to cast or toss'a projectile, and progressively increasing in size pockets of successively reduced values, and a surrounding receiver for catching wild or canted shots combined with returns, one for each pocket for leading the projectiles (marbles) back to the player's stand where they are received in rack or counter receptacles so that the value of all of the projectiles allowed to the player can be almost instantly read and checked up.

With other objects in view, my invention comprehends a ame of the type stated, that can be easily p ayed by any one, young or old, that affords much pleasure an interest to the players and which embodies the peculiar features of construction and novel detailed description, specifically mentioned in use of projectiles 1921. Serial No. 473,571.

F1gure 1 is a perspective view of my game apparatus shown as set up for use.

Figure-2 is a vertical longitudinal section thereof, parts being in side elevation.

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of the front or collecting rack into which the plzgyed marbles are gathered.

igure 4 is a vertical section of one of the collecting racks in which the return marbles gather.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Briefly stated, my game comprehendsthe which are tossed from a prescribed distance to a nest of practically 'annularly disposed vertical pockets, the central one of which .has a relatively high or bulls eye value;

those marbles that pass; into an of the pockets counting as hits," while tiose that strike the upper edges of the pocket and are reflected laterally are caught in a main receiver are misses, means in the nature of a series of individual returning tubes, one from each of the pockets and the main re- (preferably marbles) ceiver being included and which terminate in vertical racks having the designations corresponding to the value of their respectively connected pockets,

In the practical development of myz game apparatus, the same is" constructedof any suitable material, preferably thin sheet metal finished by painting orz-ienamelling. The body portion of the apparatus comprises a series or nest of vertical pockets and these are preferably of longitudinally elongated shape so that the said nest of pockets are compactly assembled and-the marbles tossed to the said nest of pockets,

that miss the pockets and engage the rims thereof are prevented from bounding away too far and-for being readily caught into a Ina-in hopper-like receiver that surrounds,

the entire nest of-pockets in the manner clearly shown in the drawings.

The pockets, of which there may be any 100 suitable number, five'being shown, are deslgnated 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5,v beginning with the center or bulls eye which has the smallest area, is the most difficult one in which to toss the marbles and which counts the most, it having the highest value. It is to be understood that when two or' more play the game, the winner is the one that gathers the greatest number of shots in the high value pockets, and readable at the rack-like counters or receivers of the return troughs 0, 1, 2, 3, i and 5.

As best shown in Figure 2, the nest of pockets is disposed on a slight vertical in cline, and a single fiat member 7 constitutes the bottom for all of the pockets. By reason of inclining the pockets, as stated and shown, all projectiles (marbles) that are received therein and drop to the bottom thereof, roll toward the lower front end.

Each of the pockets or compartments 1--5 has an outlet 8, at the lower or front end, into which the marbles pass and through which they disohar e intoa short pendent tube 80'(one for eac pocket), the lower end of which terminates in a forwardly pro-. jected horizontal which it will be noticed the several marble iqortion 81, as is best shown injthe aforesaid igure 1, by reference to outlet tubes 81 are concentrated and have their ends "positioned for being telescopinum er of marbles gathered' therein may- I cally engaged-bya series of return tubes 82 which-extend some distance from the nest to s'tand, when playing terminate inpendent-portions '83, open at the bottom; and [provided with vertically elon atedsight slots. 84 through which the:

be readily counted. I

e p dent tube portions '83, serve as i counting racks ",and each has] its open, botftom normally covered byaspring closed cap.

' "h plate 85,;tlie tension ofgthe, spring 85" Ibei ng sufiicient to 'hold the "plate 85 to theblOSE-Bd :45, position againstthe :weight-of any number,

1 0f the marbles that,maycoll ect in thecount :ing rack or tube 83,1the' closure "plate 8 being equipped withufja trippen *fingerj8o; whereby the said cap plates'mayibe' readily2 swung down, see, dotted: position* ingFigure V 4, to'permit' releasing all.,-.of"theniarbles If collected in the counter tubeYand -for: heing conveniently gathered,bygthe player;:1 4

To indcate the values of the severalgtube portions '83, in whichflthe'rmarbleai that count as shots, arecollected, thejupper bent portions of such tubes are flattened as at'87lto provide designating number receiving the numbers arranged as is clearly shown in tal tubular 'rackdesignated fOlinto' which the missed shots (marbles) are collectedand which pass from a. supplemental hopper;

surfaces, the several racks or itubes having like pocket 88 that extends entirely around the nest of pockets l5.

The supplemental 0r hopper-like pocket 88, in practice, is of such size and surrounds the nests of pockets 1-5 in relatively such manner, that all of the marbles, as they are tossed to the nests of pockets and which miss such ockets, that is, strike against the upper ec ges thereof and are laterally canted, are caught therein.

' The supplemental pocket 88 may be formed of some stiff material that will hold its shape but it is preferably made of cloth formed into an inverted hood shape, the soft body serving to deaden the noise of the marbles that contact or strike against said body.

-When made of cloth, as indicated in the drawing, the body 88 is held stiff or taut by a series of rigid ribs 89 on the inside thereof, which ribs are joined at their upper and lower ends by draw strings 9-90, the

ribs and the body being arranged somewhat connected to the upper ends of the ribs 9, f

and whose free ends are adapted for being 2 connected to fastening eyes 11 along the lower edge of the outer pocket 5, as shown. While I have not so illustrated it, it is obvious the hopper-like body 88 maybe .imadeigof wi're screenin or other like ma- ;terial,fand'when thus formed, the ribsand strings will not benecessary, but for, [reasons above mentioned, I prefer to make :the fbody 88-of'cloth with means equipped tended condition onto the nest of pockets \a's' stated. f1"? 'Thebottom of the large receiver 88 has in outlet 88). "for the escape of the -missed a-"tube 88 to a supplemental pendent tube portion 83 formed like the other rack or .fjforih olding it in 'itsj practically rigid or exv shots, the caught marbles passing "through countingtubes 83, the same being desig-j mated 0; inthe drawing, which shows the Ltube' .83? as'also equipped with a spring.

{closed (mp 85 that normally covers the lower i end thereof to' collect the missed. shots.

Due'to the small size of the combined parts that constitute my apparatus this.

f'game can-be readily moved from one home to another. The projectiles used in the game are only-as large as a small marble, hence "no physical exercise is required to play, since the game is for amusement purv poses only,

The counting racks or tubes 8383 being at the players stand, the game can be repeated as often as desired, since the marbles are all returned to the player in condition for being conveniently gathered by such player.

The several racks or counting tubes may also be made of. wire screening, through which the marbles may be seen, but I prefer to make the said members of solid tubing with long sight slots, as shown, which makes it easy to add up the total counters in each collecting tube or rack.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the complete construction, the manner in which the game is played, and its advantages will be readily apparent to almost any one.

The marbles are tossed (not thrown) in the same manner as tossing a coin from one person to another. The parts are so combined and arranged that they may be readily shaped up from sheet metal in an easy and very inexpensive manner.

he nest-0f pockets being of oval shape, that is, in the direction of the length of the apparatus, instead of circular, provides a more compact arrangement of the parts and renders it more difficult to make the shots than would be the case were the receiving pockets circular. I

To add interest'to the game, the .bulls eye or center pocket has a gong l5, suitably located within the pocket, to be struck.

by the marble caught therein, as it drops to the bottom for indicating to the player that a bulls eye shot was made.

To make difi'icult the tossing of the marbles in the central or bulls eye pocket as they aretossed toward the center of the nest of the pockets, the series of pockets that surround the central pocket 1 are of gradu ally decreasing depth toward their front end and of corresponding increasing depth from the central pocket to their farthest end, as is best shown in Figure l.

-The gradually increasing depth' of the pockets 2, 3 and 4, from the front to the back end thereof, makes the placing of the inarbles'into the lesser value pockets relatively easy and practically overcomes the danger of the projectiles. (marbles) passing beyond the nest of pockets.

In playing the game, each player, in his or her turn, pitches preferably five marbles,

one at a time, at the bulls eye or-target portion 5. In pitching the marbles or balls, if one ball goes in pocket 2, this counts 2 points; if one goes in pocket 4 it counts 4 points and if one goes in the bulls eye 5 it counts 5 points and if the other two go into the hopper 0 they count nothing, thus making a total of eleven points. The

troughs or runways from their receiving ends to near their outer ends where they connect with the pendent racks 83.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. In a game apparatus of the character described, a series of vertically disposed receptacles. each of the said receptacles being of relatively progressively increasing depth, each individual receptacle increasing in height from the front to the rearniost ends, a flexible. annular receiver that surrounds the nest of receptacles, the said receiver being adapted for catching the projectiles that are not caught within the vertical receptacles, the said receiver increasing in depth-from the front to the rear end, the said receiver being removably attached to the receptacles body, and means for sustaining the flexible receiver body in rigid relation with respect to the receptacles and when operatively applied. the said receiver and the receptacle each having an outlet for the passage there throu h of the projectile caught therein.

In a game of the characterdescribed, a receptacle into which a marble may be tossed by a player standing some distance from the said receptacle, a receiver that surrounds the receptacle for catching the missed shots or projectiles that engage the outer edge of the receptacle and are laterally deflected therefrom, a separate return tube. connected with each of the receptacles and with the receiver and a pendent collecting pocket connected to the outer end of each of the return tubes,-

3. In a game of the character described, a

nest of receptacles of progressively increasing depth from the smallest or innermost one of the nest, theseveral rece )tacles being of elongated shape in the direction of the length of the apparatus, whereby a series of continuous annularly disposed spaces are formed into which marbles may be tossed by a player standing some distance away from the receptacles, an outer trough shaped receiver that surrounds the nest of receptacles, each of the receptacles and the receiver having an outlet for the marbles caught therein, means for separahly collecting the marbles from toe di'tlerent receptacles and the re ceiver, the said means being located some distance in advance of the receptacles and the receiver, and returns individually connecting the several receptacles and the receiver with the marble collecting means.

4:. In a game of the character stated, a series of annularly disposed pockets each of the said pockets being relatively of progressively increasing depth, each individual pocket increasing in height from the front to the rearmost ends, a receiver that surrounds the nest of pockets and is adapted for catching the projectiles that are not caught in the nest of pockets, the said receiver and each of the pockets having an outlet for the free passage therethrough of the projectiles caught therein and a series of separate b'all collecting pockets, one for each of the nest of pockets and the receiver and a runway connecting each of the outlets with their respective ball collecting pockets.

A game apparatus of the character described, comprising a suitable supporting frame. a series of annularly disposed vertizal receptacles, the said receptacles being of progressively increasing depth, a flat memher that constitutes a bottom for all of the said receptacles, an annular receiver of gradually increasing depth from its front to its rear end, the said receiver surrounding the series of annular receptacles adapted for catching such of the projectiles tossed toward and not caught in the receptacles, a series of separate projectile collecting pockets located some distance forward of the caught elements and adjacent the stand for the player, one of the said pockets being provided for each of the series of receptacles and the receiver, the said pockets each having a shift-able closure cap that constitutes the bottoms of the said pockets, a runway connecting each of the series of pockets and the receiver with their respective projec ile catching recepatcles and the receiver with the aforesaid flat bottom member having openings for the passage of the projectiles thereto into their respective runway.

THOMAS J. DIXON. 

